The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-11-05
Henry clay on tho Mississippi River.
I'm. o. picayune.1

~ .
IN. o. picayune.l
In u communication, published else
where, from Rev. r.. Abbey, venera-
BILE and distinguished Methodist cler.
gyman, author Of q number of theoloei-
cal works, Is given some intereeting
information OF conversation which
he had on q Mississippi steamboat
with the great statesman of genera.
tiou past, Henry Clay, on the subject
OF the Mississippi river. Mr.. Clay In
THAI early day held that this great
waterway was an inland sea present.
ing grand facilities for the internal
commerce OF the country, as well -
Offering immense resources TO b. utilix-
ed for the public defense. Even then,
Mr.. Clay with his statesmau-llke
grasp of mind realized the necessity
for the government to take this great
continental river under its special CON-
troll, and he actually formulated
scheme for the organization OF 4 com.
mission OF engineers to study Its reRi.
of Its floods and the Improvement of
Its navigation moro than two score Of
years before the grand undertaking was
actually accomplished, mainly through
the indefatigable Efforts aud great influ.
ence of Senator Gibson Of Louisiana.
In his day Mr.. Clay deplored the
fact that the general government was
not alive to the importance OF this
national inland sea. The lamentations
Of the great statesman are almost as
much In order today as they were
forty years ugo, for although something
has been done towards the improve.
ment Of this great waterway it IL moth
ing in comparison with what ls demand
ed by its extraordinary merits. When
1t Is remembered that It's navigable
waters interpenetrate the territory of
twenty states, and that contiguous to
Its shores are the forests OF timber, the
mines of coal and iron, the plantations
OF hemp and cotton aud all other re-
quisites for building navies and pro.
visionin. armies for the public defense,
In tho heart Of the continent secure
from the possibility OF foreign attack,
1t appears astonishing that the greatest
ltbcraltty has not been bestowed ON
the Improvement Of the Mississippi
river. Any Of tho great European
nations would, II they had possessed
It, have walled 1t with granite from
st. Anthony's fall to the Mexican gulf
to deepen It's channel and protect the
country from It's floods. When the
United States shall become, as It must.
a great military power, II will be fore
cd to make some permanent improve.
ment like that.
To the Picayune: Beading your
notice of yesterday OF President Cleve-
lands remarks the other day on the
Mississippi river reminds me:
Years ago boarded large steamer
below Natchez, bound for New Orleans,
after midnight. The passengers had
all retired 10 their berths for sleep, ex-
cept ono old gentleman sitting near
tho Fireplace. AS 1 approached we
recognized each other. My time for
going 10 sleep had passed and his being
no particular time conversation was In
order. My friend was no
other than the great commoner, Henry
Clay. When and where could be
found IA better opportunity for talk
The themo WAS the Mississippi river,
the improvement Of It's navigation and
reclamation Of its low lands, CONNER
cial importance, etc. The morning
light saluted us before we had arrang-
ed those things to Our mutual satisfdc-
tion. l can copy AS well now as that
next morning, almost exactly verbatim
some OF his words. Might they not bo
preserved?
"rhis mighty, mighty river! o! 1t
Is not n river-lt is an Inland sea. 1t
is the property OF no state, nor Of any
number OF states, but OF the nation.
OF course weknow nothing of Its histo-
ry, for no civilized eye saw 1t until
almost yesterday. With lands Of untold
richness and huge waters OF untold
navigable value, its worth Is as yet by
no meaas measurable"
"Weli, Mr.. Clay, what Is to be done
with 1t? How is its value To be real>
ized? This Is tho great practical ques-
ton. What process do you suggest 2"
"I'il tell you let the general govern
ment. Oh! II we bad government"
(Vun Buren, was then president)-if
we had live government. Let the
government appoint "A corps of compe-
tent engineers in two parts, one foreign,
the other domestic. The former will
go abroad whenever they can find
rivers of somewhat similnr character,
that have known history and
examine them thoroughly. This they
may probably do tn about three ycars.
The domestic board viii examine the
river itself, make Il complete nautical
and Typographical survey, with such
local information as may be found
within reach. This can probably bo
done in about the same length of time.